Operation control interlocking mechanism for power-operated typewriters or like machines



April 20, 1954 w. H. KUPPER I 2,675,902 OPERATION CONTROL INTERLQCKINGMECHANISM FOR POWER-OPERATED TYPEWRITERS 0R LIKE MACHINES Filed July 9,1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

WILL/AM H. KUPPER RNEYS p l 1954 w. H. KUPPER OPERATION CONTROLINTERLQCKING MECHANISM FOR POWER-OPERATED TYPEWRITERS 0R LIKE MACHINES 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 9, 1952 I g} V JNVENTOR.

' WILL/AM H. /1 UPPER M 14, ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 20, 1954 MECHANISMFOR POWER-OPERATED TYPEWRITERS OB LIKE MACHINES William H. Kupper, WestHartford, Conn, as-

signor to Royal Typewriter Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporationof New York Ap lication July 9, 1952, Serial No. 297,828-

4 Claims.

This invention relates to operation control interlocking mechanism for'power operated typewriters or like machines, and more particularly tomechanism for interlockingly preventing effective depression of thetyping or other keys of such machines when a switch controlling thepower operated driving mechanism is shut off.

in one well-known class of power operated typewriters a'driver such as arotatable snatch roll is arranged to be operated continuously when themachine is in use. Instrumentalities adapted to be operated, such as thetype bars, carriage returning mechanism, tabulating mechanism, caseshifting mechanism, and back spacing mechanism, are connected tointerponents which are adapted, upon depression of selected keys, to bemoved into transient engagement with the snatch roll, whereupon theinterponent and the instrumentality connected thereto are operated bythe snatch ro1l. The operated interponent becomes disengaged from thesnatch roll at the end of the operation, and returns to its normalposition out of engagement with the snatch roll. If, when the electricmotor for driving the snatch roll or other driver is not operating, anumber of keys are held depressed, the associated interpon'ents will beengaged with the stationary snatch roll so that if the power is thenturned on and the motor started, a number of interponents and theirassociated instrumentalities will be actuated'simultaneously,causingdanger of jamming of the parts and damaging of the machine.

An object of the present invention is to provide improved mechanism forso correlating or interlocking a switch controlling the operation of thedriving motor and a blocking element adapted to prevent depression ofthe keys that when the switch is in o position the blocking element isin blocking position, and so that when the switch is moved toon positionthe block ing element will be displaced so as not to be engageable bythe keys.

Another object of the invention is to provide interlocking mechanism" inconnection with asnap action switch-Which itself may be of conventionalform, the parts being so relatedthat the movable elementoffjthe switch,in passing from its on position, th an intermediate position to its oilpos n'with a quick decisive action, insures mov ntof the keyblocking.elementcompletely to; its, blocking position,

A further object oftheinverition is; to provide mechanism i. th a diencs. t in ooperative association with mechanism respon- 2 sive to arrivalof the carriage at itsline end position for moving the key blockingelement to blocking position irrespective of the position of the switch.

Other objects will become apparent from a reading of the followingdescription, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawings inwhich:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of mechanism embodying theinvention;

Figure 2 is a schematic view depicting electrically driven mechanism foroperating the various typewriter instrumentalities;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view, partly in top plan and partly inhorizontal section, on the line 3--3 of Figure, showingparts of amechanism for positioning the-"blocking element in blocking positionwhen the carriagereaches its line end position, and also showing partsof a margin releasing mechanism Figure 4 is a vertical section on theline 4-4 of Figure 3 with some partsshown in front elevation; and

Figure 5 is a view mainly in side elevation 1001 1 ing in the directionof arrow 5 in Figure 4 and. showing a frame cross bar inverticalsection,

A preferred form of mechanism constructed in accordance with theinventionis shown as being embodied in a typewriter only some or theconventional or usual parts of which are illustrated. Among theconventional machine parts shown are a stationary main frame, a part ofwhich is shown at A, and a carriage mounted for letter spacing andreturn movement on the frame and including a ri ht end plate I and; a. I

Two operation initiating: members, e. g. depressible ke levers 3, areshown margin stop bar 2.

in Figure 1, but it will be understood that the machine includes theusual complement of key levers or like operation initiating members foroperating or controlling the operation of the type bars and other usualmechanisms or instrumentalities. I 7 V The typewriter instrumentalitiesare adapted to be operated by suitable power driven aria nism, forexample electrically powered operating means of the kind disclosed inthe patent to Kupper, No. 2,567,945, issued September 13', 1951. Asillustrated schematically in Figure 2, a snatch roll I; is adapted to beengaged selectively by actuator pawls, one or which is shown at 5. Thesnatch roll is driven by an electric, motor 6 which transmits driveth'rou'gh'a' variable speed transmission l, which may be of the kinddisclosed in the patent to Hart, No. 2,573,197,

granted October 30, 1951. Conductors 8 and 9 lead from the motor 6 to aplug fitting it adapted to be connected to a power supply. A snap switchII is interposed in the conductor 9 and includes an arm part l2 formedwith a ball shaped end. The switch may be of conventional constructionand inherently has the operating characteristic of its arm I2 movingquickly and decisively from its on position through an intermediateposition to its off position, and reversely.

Line locking mechanism for preventing opera tion of the keys 3 when thecarriage has reached its line end position includes a center stop itpivotally mounted at M on a bracket l5 secured to the frame A. A linelock lever H3 is pivoted at H on the center stop l3 and has its upperend formed as a blade l8 normally spaced slightly from the top of thecenter stop It as shown in dotted lines in Figure 4. The blade i8 isdisposed in the path of an adjustable abutment screw it on a rightmargin stop adjustably positioned on the bar 2. The arrangement is suchthat when the carriage reaches the end of its letter spacing travel, asdetermined by the setting of the margin stop 26, the screw 59 willengage the lever blade 18 and rock the lever l5 counterclockwise, asviewed in Figure 1, until the blade i8 abuts against and is stopped bythe upper end of the center stop I3.

The lower part 2! of the line lock lever 55 formed with a rearwardlyextending offset 22 connected to one end of a link 23, the other end ofwhich is connected to the upper arm 2 of a lever, generally designated25, pivoted at 26 and 21 on a frame mounted bracket 28. The lower arm 28of the lever is connected to the rear end of a link 30 having its frontend connected to an ear 3| on a control element or blade provided withpivots 33 and 34' adapted to be mount-- ed in bearings (not shown) onthe frame A. The control element 32 is urged to rock counterclockwise bya spring 35 interposed between the ear Si and an anchor stud 38 adaptedto be supported on the frame A. Thus, the spring 35 biases the blockingor key controlling element 32 forwardly from the position shown inFigure 1, so that normally, i. e., when the machine is in use, the topedge 3'! of the blade 32 will be disposed clear of, that is, in frontof, downwardly extending projections 38 on the key levers 3. A spring asinterposed between an ear on the bracket 28 and an ear 4! on the lever25 urges the latter to rock in a direction to bias the link 30 forwardlyand thus, additionally, to bias the line lock blade 32 to its normalposition in which it does not prevent depression of the key levers 3.Movement of the blade 32 forwardly under the urge of the springs 35 and39 is limited by engagement of a stop ear 25* on the lever 25 with thebracket 23.

In operation, with the motor 6 and snatch roll 4 rulming continuously,the blade 32 will be in its forward or normal position so that the keylevers 3 may be depressed. The top part E8 of the line locking lever itwill be displaced to the right of the center stop l3 as indicated indotted lines in Figure 4. When the carriage ap proaches the end of itsletter spacing movement, the margin stop screw l9 will engage the toppart l8 of the lever 16 so as to rock the latter in the mannerpreviously described, thereby moving the link 23 toward the right,rocking the lever 25 so as to pull the link 30 rearwardly, and therebyrocking the line locking blade or control element 32 clockwise againstthe bias of the springs 35 and 39 to position the upper edge 3'! of theblade 32 under the key lever projections 38. In this manner, depressionof the key levers 3 will be blocked or prevented when the carriage is inits line end position. When the carriage is moved to the right so as torelieve the pressure of the margin stop screw 19 on the part it of thelever 16, the springs 35 and 39 will restore the line lock blade 32 toits normal position determined by the stop ear 25 Margin releasingmechanism is provided for enabling the line locking mechanism to bedisabled at the will of the operator when the carriage is in its lineend position and it is desired to type one or a few additionalcharacters. In the form shown, the center stop 53 is provided at itslower end with a projection 22 which ertends in front of the forward endof a pin t; mounted for fore-and-aft sliding movement by a bearing iscarried on the frame A. The rear end of the pin 63 has a head formedwith a slot which receives the rounded end of an arm 35 of a lever,generally designated dd, pivotally mounted on frame A at ll. The otherarm 63 of the lever ts is provided with a pin 5% which is received in aslot 50 in an arm 5i of a lever, generally designated 52, pivoted at 255on the bracket 28. The other arm 53 of the lever 52 is connected to therear end of a link 54 the front end of which is connected to anupstanding arm 55 formed on a margin release key lever 56 pivoted on ascrew 5? adapted to be mounted on the frame A. Movement of the key 5% islimited by a screw 58 extending through a slot 59 in the lever 56 andadapted to be mounted on the frame A. A spring 69 interposed between thearm 55 and part iii on the frame A normally maintains the margin releasekey lever 55 in the normal position shown in Figure 1.

If the carriage is in its line end position with the line locking blade32 accordingly in its blocking or actuated position, and it is desiredto type one or a few more characters, the margin release key E56 isdepressed. This will pull forwardly on the link as so as to rock thelever 52 clockwise, and rock the lever ii; counterclockwise, therebypushing the pin 43 forwardly, and rocking the center stop it so as todisplace the center stop and the part it of the lever it from the pathof the margin stop screw !9. This will both enable the carriage to movefurther to the left and enable the springs 35 and 39 to move the linelocking blade 32 to its normal position, thus permitting the key levers3 to be depressed.

In accordance with the invention, mechanism is provided for moving theline blocking blade 32 to blocking position when the switch l i is setin off position, thereby preventing depression of the keys 3 when themachine is not conditioned for operation. In the form shown, a manuallymanipulatable device, e. g. a lever member 52, is pivoted on a screw IE3supported on the frame A. The front end of the lever 82 is provided witha finger piece or key 8 3, and an arm at the rear of the lever E2 ispivoted at it to the upper end of a link 67, the lower end of which ispivoted at B8 to the front arm 59 of a switch operating lever "it,pivoted on a screw '1 5 carried by the main frame A. The rear arm 72 ofthe lever IE3 is formed with spaced fingers l3 and M which straddle theball end switch arm 12, the arrangement being such that when the lever10 is rocked clockwise, as viewed in Figure 1, the finger '13 will pressagainst the switch arm !2 to move the latter from its off position toits on position, whereas when the switch arm is in its on position and.the l'ever'lfl is rocked counterclockwise, the finger 14 will move theswitch arm i2 reversely to its off position. The inherentsnapactionofthe switch arm i2 insuresmovement of the lever 12completely'from its on position, and vice versa.

When the parts are in the positions shown in Figure 1, the machine maybe conditioned for operation by pushing downwardly on the finger piece Ei, thereby making the lever 62 counterclockwise, lifting the linktland-rocking the switch operating lever 10 clockwise. To return theswitch to its off position, the finger piece 64 may be lifted, thusdepressing the link 61 and rocking the lever 10 counterclockwise.

As previously explained, setting of the switch H in oif positionautomatically positions the line locking blade 32 inits actuated orblocking position so as to prevent depression of the key levers 33 whenthe driving mechanism is not operating. As shown in- Figure 1, aninterponentlever I5 is pivoted ona screw 16 carried by the main frame Aand has its rear arm I? bifurcated at 18 to receive the pivot pin 68which joins the lower end of the link 61 to the arm 69 of the lever it.The front arm 19 of the interponentlever '45 is formed with anupstanding ear part 88 which underlies a tab part 8! riveted orotherwise secured to the line locking blade 32 in a position offset fromthe pivot axis 33-44.

The upper operating face on the car part 80 of the interponent lever 15and the lower operating face onthe tab 8! provide a one-way driveconnection enabling clockwis rocking of the interponent lever 15 to movethe blade 32 to its actuated or blocking position, but whichnevertheless permits the blade 32- .to be moved to its actuated positionby operation or the link 39 and its associated elements independently ofrocking of the interponent 15.

In operation; and assuming that the carriage is not in its line endposition and assuming furthey that the finger piece 64 is in its ofiposition, the related arts will be in the positions shown in Figure 1with the switch arm I2 in its ofi position and the blade 32 held in itsactuated position by pressure of the ear part 80 on the tab part 8|.When the finger piece 64 is depressed, the link 61 is raised to rock theswitch operating lever clockwise so as to move the switch arm l2 to itson position. Raising of the link 6 also will rock th interponent lever85 counterclockwise so as to lower the ear 80 and relieve its pressureon the blade tab 8 l thereby permitting the springs 35 and 39 to rockthe blade 32 counterclockwise and thus position the blade top edge 31 infront of and out of the paths of the key lever projections 38.Consequently the power driving mechanism will be set in operation andthe key levers 3 will be conditioned for being operated in the usualmanner. Movement of the blade 32 to its normal position will act throughthe link 30, lever 25, and link 23 to position the line lock lever It inits normal operation position shown in dotted lines in Figure 4.

When the machine is not to be used, th finger piece 54 is raised so asto lower the link 61, thereby rocking the switch operating lever 10counterclockwise and moving the switch arm [2 back to its off position.concomitantly, the interponent lever is rocked clockwise, therebyraising its car 80, and causing the latter to press against the tab 8|so as to rock the blade 32 against the urge of the springs 35 and 39 andposition the top edge 31 of the bladeunder the key lever extensions38,-thereby blocking depress'ion of the keys. The inherent snap actioncharacteristic of th switch arm l2 in moving decisively and quickly toits ofi" position assures movement of the line locking blade 32completely to its actuated position, so that even though the operatormay carelessly not move the finger piece 64 completely from" its on.position to its off position, the blade 32 nevertheless will be movedcompletely to its actuated position.

If the switch is in its on position and the blade 32 is in its normalposition, in whichit does not prevent depression of the key levers 3,the lost motion connection 80-8! between the interponent lever 15 andthe line locking blade 32 will permit the latter to be moved to itsactuated position by the line locking lever I6 and its associated partswhen the carriage reaches the end of its letter spacing travel.

The mechanism disclosed embodies the invention in a preferred form, butit is intended that the disclosure be illustrative rather thandefinitive of the invention. The invention is defined in the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. In a power operated typewriter or like machine, electrically poweredoperating means; a switch for controlling operation of said operatingmeans and having an on position and an off" position; an operationinitiating member; a control element settable in a pormal position inwhich it does not prevent movement of said operation initiating memberand in an actuated position in which it prevents movement'of saidoperation initiating member; spring means for urging said controlelement to its normal position; a manually manipulatable lever; a leverfor operating said switch; a link connecting'said'levers for conjointoperation; an interponent lever connected to and being operable by saidlink; and a part operatively associated with and being movable by saidinterponent lever for moving said control element to its' actuatedposition against the urge of said spring means when said manuallymanipulatable lever, said link, and said switch operating lever aremoved to operate said switch to its on? position.

2. In a power operated typewriter or like machine, electrically poweredoperating means; a snap action switch for controlling operation of saidoperating means and having an arm movable from an on position past anintermediate posi tion to an ofi position with a quick decisive action;an operation initiating member; a control element settable in a normalposition in which it does not prevent movement of said operationinitiating member and in an actuated position in which it preventsmovement of said operation initiating member; spring means for urgingsaid control element to its normal position; manually manipulatablemeans including a pair of spaced fingers straddling said switch arm andbeing operable. for moving said switch arm to its on and off positionsselectively; and an interponent operatively connected to said controlelement, and to said manuallymanipulatable means and being operable bythe latter for movin said control element to its actuated positionagainst the urge of said spring means when said switch arm is moved toits ofi position, said switch arm, in moving quickly and decisively toits off position, acting through said manually manipulatable means toeffect certain movement of said control element completely to itsactuated position.

3. In a power operated typewriter or like machine, a stationary framepart; a carriage part movable with respect to said frame part duringletter spacing carriage travel; a line locking de vice mounted on one ofsaid parts for movement in response to arrival of the carriage at apredetermined line end position; electrically powered operating means; aswitch for controlling operation of said operating means and having anon position and an off position; an operation initiating member; apivoted control element settable in a normal position in which it doesnot prevent movement of said operation initiating member and in anactuated position in which it prevents movement of said operationinitiating member; spring means for urging said control element to itsnormal position; a manually manipulatable lever; a link connected tosaid lever; a switch operating lever connected to said link and to saidswitch; an interponent lever connected to said link and having anoperating face; an operating face on said control element oifset fromthe pivot axis thereof and cooperating with the operating face on saidinterponent lever to provide a one way drive connection for moving saidcontrol element to actuated position when said switch operating levermoves said switch to 0d position, but said one way drive connectionpermitting movement of said control element to its actuated positionirrespective of movement of said switch operating lever; and meansconnecting said line locking device to said control element for movingthe latter to its actuated position when said line locking device ismoved in response to arrival of the carriage at said predetermined lineend position.

4. In a power operated typewriter or like machine, a stationary framepart; a carriage part movable with respect to said frame part duringletter spacing carriage travel; a line locking device mounted on one ofsaid parts for movement in response to arrival of the carriage at apredetermined line end position; electrically powered operating means; asnap action switch for controlling operation of said operating means andhaving a switch part movable from an "on position past an intermediateposition to an 01f position with a quick decisive action; an operationinitiating member; a pivoted control element settable in a normalposition in which it does not prevent movement of said operationinitiating member and in an actuated position in which it preventsmovement of said operation initiating member; spring means for urgingsaid control element to its normal position; a manually manipulatablelever; a link connected to said lever; a switch operating leverconnected to said link and to said movable switch part; an interponentlever connected to said switch operating lever and having an operatingface; an operating face on said control element offset from the pivotaxis thereof and cooperatin with the operating face on said interponentlever to provide a one way drive connection for moving said controlelement to actuated position when said switch operating lever moves saidswitch part to off position, said switch part, in moving quickly anddecisively to its off position, acting through said switch operatinglever, said interponent lever, and said one way drive connection toinsure certain movement of said control element completely to itsactuated position, said one way drive connection permitting movement ofsaid control element to its actuated position irrespe tive of movementof said switch operating lever; and means connecting said line lockingdevice to said control element for moving the latter to its actuatedposition when said line locking device is moved in response to arrivalof the carriage at said predetermined line end position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,600,252 Smathers Sept. 21, 1926 1,777,055 Thompson Sept. 30,1930 2,255,029 Tholstrup Sept. 2, 1941 2,407,195 Von Reppert Sept. 3,1946

